Vehicle heating device

Abstract

A vehicle heating device includes a heat storage material, a heat recovery unit, a footrest, and a heat controller. The vehicle heating device heats an occupant with heat stored in the heat storage material. The heat recovery unit recovers thermal energy from at least one of a heat source generated by a vehicle or a natural heat source from outside of the vehicle. The heat storage material stores the recovered thermal energy. The footrest is provided at a front portion of a vehicle seat disposed in a vehicle cabin, and has the heat storage material packed inside a heat insulating material. The heat controller heats the footrest by radiating the heat stored in the heat storage material at a predetermined timing with respect to the occupant to be on the vehicle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle heating device comprising: a heat recovery unit configured to convert, into electrical energy, heat generated by at least one of heat sources generated by a behavior of a vehicle or a natural heat source from outside of the vehicle; a heat storage unit configured to be filled with a heat storage material, the heat storage unit in its entirety being enclosed by a heat insulating material, the heat storage unit configured to store thermal energy converted from the electrical energy, a heat radiation window with a heat shutter being formed on a periphery of the heat storage unit, the heat shutter configured to be openable; a footrest configured to be provided at a front portion of a vehicle seat disposed in a vehicle cabin, the footrest including the heat storage unit, and a heat controller configured to store thermal energy in the heat storage unit by using a heater converting the electrical energy into the thermal energy when the vehicle traveling is detected, the heater provided inside the heat storage unit, and turn on an aft conditioner of the vehicle with the heat shutter closed after warming the footrest by opening the heat shutter to transfer the thermal energy through the heat shutter from inside the heat storage unit into the footrest at a predetermined timing with respect to an occupant being in the vehicle. 
     
     
       2. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heat controller radiates heat from the heat storage material that heats the footrest at the predetermined timing before the occupant gets in the vehicle. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a heat transfer area is provided to the heat insulating material interposed between an upper surface of the heat storage material and the upper surface of the footrest, the heat transfer area being configured to transfer heat between the heat storage material and an upper surface of the footrest, wherein 
 the heat transfer area is provided with a heat transfer opening and closing unit configured to open and close the heat transfer area, and 
 the opening and closing of the heat transfer area is controlled by the heat controller. 
 
     
     
       4. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 a heat transfer area is provided to the heat insulating material interposed between an upper surface of the heat storage material and the upper surface of the footrest, the heat transfer area being configured to transfer heat between the heat storage material and an upper surface of the footrest, wherein 
 the heat transfer area is provided with a heat transfer opening and closing unit configured to open and close the heat transfer area, and 
 the opening and closing of the heat transfer area is controlled by the heat controller. 
 
     
     
       5. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 3 , wherein the heat controller operates the heat transfer opening and closing unit to open the heat transfer area upon receiving from outside a signal indicating an intention of the occupant to board. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the heat controller operates the heat transfer opening and closing unit to open the heat transfer area upon receiving from outside a signal indicating an intention of the occupant to board. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 5 , wherein, after the heat transfer area is opened by the heat transfer opening and closing unit, the heat controller closes the heat transfer area with the heat transfer opening and closing unit when the upper surface temperature of the footrest exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 6 , wherein, after the heat transfer area is opened by the heat transfer opening and closing unit, the heat controller closes the heat transfer area with the heat transfer opening and closing unit when the upper surface temperature of the footrest exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 7 , wherein, after transmitting a start signal to the air conditioner, the heat controller closes the heat transfer area, or closes the heat transfer area stepwise, with the heat transfer opening and closing unit. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 8 , wherein, after transmitting the start signal to the air conditioner, the heat controller closes the heat transfer area, or closes the heat transfer area stepwise, with the heat transfer opening and closing unit. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the threshold temperature set in the heat controller is variably set on a basis of cabin temperature of the vehicle and the occupant's body temperature at a time of contact by the occupant. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 8 , wherein the threshold temperature set in the heat controller is variably set on a basis of cabin temperature of the vehicle and the occupant's body temperature at a time of contact by the occupant. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 9 , wherein the threshold temperature set in the heat controller is variably set on a basis of cabin temperature of the vehicle and the occupant's body temperature at a time of contact by the occupant. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 10 , wherein the threshold temperature set in the heat controller is variably set on a basis of cabin temperature of the vehicle and the occupant's body temperature at a time of contact by the occupant. 
     
     
       15. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined threshold temperature of the heat controller is a variable value which is manually adjusted in advance. 
     
     
       16. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined threshold temperature of the heat controller is a variable value which is manually adjusted in advance. 
     
     
       17. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 9 , wherein the predetermined threshold temperature of the heat controller is a variable value which is manually adjusted in advance. 
     
     
       18. The vehicle heating device according to  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined threshold temperature of the heat controller is a variable value which is manually adjusted in advance. 
     
     
       19. A vehicle heating device comprising: a heat recovery unit configured to convert, into electrical energy, heat generated by at least one of a-heat sources generated by a behavior of a vehicle or a natural heat source from outside of the vehicle; a heat storage unit configured to be filled with a heat storage material, the heat storage unit in its entirety being enclosed, by a heat insulating material, the heat storage unit configured to store thermal energy converted from the electrical energy, a heat radiation window with a heat shutter being formed on a periphery of the heat storage unit, the heat shutter configured to be openable; a footrest configured to be provided at a front portion of a vehicle seat disposed in a vehicle cabin, the footrest including the heat storage unit, and circuitry configured to: store thermal energy in the heat storage unit by using a heater converting the electrical energy into the thermal energy when the vehicle traveling is detected, the heater provided inside the heat storage unit, and turn on an air conditioner of the vehicle with the heat shutter closed after warming the footrest by opening the heat shutter to transfer the thermal energy through the heat shutter from inside the heat storage unit into the footrest at a predetermined timing with respect to an occupant being in the vehicle.